Outrage and dead-ends

I have not said anything about the disaster in Burma, because I haven't had anything to say beyond "It's a disaster." And, that people should call the country Burma -- as the Bush Administration, Senators Clinton, McCain*, and Obama, and the Washington Post do -- rather than Myanmar, the term chosen by its junta and now accepted by CNN, NPR, and the New York Times.
...
Unfortunately, saying that the regime is evil doesn't automatically indicate how to help its unfortunate people. Invasions -- even for humanitarian purposes -- should be a very last resort. And without spelling out the whole reasoning, the U.S. is not in a great position now to be organizing an international invasion force, no matter how noble the cause. As the international frustrations of the last week have suggested, the main option is the unsatisfying one of putting together as much pressure from as many sources as possible, including China**, to force the regime away from its outrageous refusal to allow aid workers in.

(*About McCain: if it really is true that he has given a major convention role to a lobbyist who represented the Burmese junta, McCain needs to dump that person forthwith -- or be pilloried for not doing so every day between now and the election. Update: I see that the lobbyist, Doug Goodyear, has just quit the convention job. Next, maybe giving back the $300,000+ the generals paid him, to a human rights group? **About China: the latest outrage by the Burmese generals should not become the latest reason to threaten China with an Olympic boycott or disruption. The Chinese government has some influence over the Burmese regime -- but just some. It is better to make China part of the solution to this problem, by pointing out that a regime's refusal to save its own people is the strongest possible reason for an exception in China's "non-interference with other sovereign states" doctrine.)

A year ago, during the time of riots and crackdowns, I posted several pictures of what Rangoon looked like just before the fighting began. Here and after the jump, a few other pictures from that time.
More at Evil in Burma

Electricity

Facing Foreclosure? Breed Fish!

Or bread them...?

Hat tip to Mitchell for this find...

There's mucho dinero to be made in this mortgage meltdown situation, but instead of jumping in your time machine, traveling back to last summer and shorting subprime, why not get creative about it? According to the Journal, anyone interested in getting rich should dive into the fish fucking business, stat. Michael Corkery reports that the Gambusia affinis, i.e. the "mosquito fish," is making a name for itself in California, Arizona, Florida and anywhere else you might find a ton of foreclosed homes con swimming pools. Apparently the abandoned estate's water-based recreational facilities are becoming infested by mosquitoes, and causing worry about the spread of diseases like West Nile. Instead of using humans to spray pesticides, the fish are increasingly being deployed to the areas of concern, where they eat up to 500 larvae a day. "They are the real heroes," said Josefa Cabadad, a technician with the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District. "I've never seen a mosquito in a pool with mosquito fish." Start breeding.

Your Big Money Idea Of The Day

WSJ...
The problem: swimming pools of abandoned homes have turned into mosquito breeding grounds.
Related video: Foreclosed? Go Fish!

Then spoke the thunder
DA
Datta: what have we given?
My friend, blood shaking my heart
The awful daring of a moment's surrender
Which an age of prudence can never retract
By this, and this only, we have existed
Which is not to be found in our obituaries
Or in memories draped by the beneficent spider
Or under seals broken by the lean solicitor
In our empty rooms
DA
Dayadhvam: I have heard the key
Turn in the door once and turn once only
We think of the key, each in his prison
Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison
Only at nightfall, aetherial rumours
Revive for a moment a broken Coriolanus
DA
Damyata: The boat responded
Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar
The sea was calm, your heart would have responded
Gaily, when invited, beating obedient
To controlling hands

Fishnet Friday Jejachitso

If you’re seeking a low carbon feel-good meal this weekend Wagga has the recipe for you: Jejachitso

Cooling my heels by ~DeadThings

The Jejachitso Recipe.

Back before Windows 95 attempted to destroy the world, my business partner introduced me to the
fundamental "noodle soup" concept. Not to be confused with the packaged noodle soups that Casey Serin
refuses to eat. After several years of development, Jejachitso was introduced to a pack of hungry
backpackers on an outing to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands of Southern California. Several
super-sized saucepans were sucked up in seconds. Acclaim followed on successive backpack trips - but don't forget
that that the experimental subjects had a gruelling dozen or two miles under the boots before dinner!.
Jejachitso also gained an inexplicable following as "Fried Lettuce Soup".

Like Cioppino, Jejachitso is a "bring what you got" dish, so do feel free to experiment.

Ingredients:

Broth, Protein, Leafy Vegetables, Garlic, Green Onions, Special Oils, Pasta.

The Base:

Homemade or canned chicken broth, "Minors" or "Better Than Bouillon" base, or "Marmite" (for a more
beefish (but vegetarian) feel). That's the Jewish part. Use at least 1 teaspoon per pint. (Except for Marmite).

The Protein:

Dice up some "Very Firm", "Ultra Firm" or "Construction Grade" Tofu. Sautee to golden plus in a big
cast-iron skillet with a neutral (Canola/Corn) oil. Alternatively, or, in addition, there is shrimp or Ahi
tuna (browned quickly) or calamari or abalone or scallops (as yet untried). Or Kobe beef.
If you haven't guessed, that's the Japanese part.

The Leafy Veggies:

Bok Choi, Pak Choi, NAPA cabbage or even real spinach, but certainly not iceberg lettuce. Cut off the
crunchy parts & sautee in sesame oil. To thicken, construct a roux with several tablespoons of flour,
quenching with a white wine or shitty Chinese beer. Reduce. Toss the sauteed parts & the reserved
green bits into the pot several minutes before serving. Without a doubt, the Chinese part.

The Other Ethnic Bit:

The Italian Job is accomplished by sauteeing at least a handful of garlic cloves in olive oil to golden
perfection. Then sautee (In olive oil) the crunchy parts of the green onions in olive oil. Add the green
parts several minutes before serving. Drained al dente spaghetti or other pasta is optionally added in the
last few seconds. A small amount of brown sugar & white pepper is good.
You could add salt, bay leaves or Italian Seasoning, but that would fuck it up.
So now you know where the "It" part comes from.

The "So" part:

Is it "Soup" - is it nuts - or is it Soy Sauce? GOK

Very sad and frustrating

Milatry junta: “Myanmar is not in a position to receive rescue and information teams from foreign countries at the moment,” the statement, from the Foreign Ministry, said.

An aid worker in Burma, Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia, warned of an epidemic of "apocalyptic proportions" if aid did not get through.

More disturbing images at Golden Colour Revolution.

Given the nature of the Burmese government, I think AVAAZ.org's plan to route funds via the monks may be the most effective and expedient. As they state "other forms of aid could be delayed, diverted or manipulated by the Burmese government--but the monks are the most trusted and reliable institution in the country. "

Arthur the Octopus

"They always want me to say who is the best writer in America today, and I can't think of any name but Al Capp... One of the symptoms or diagnostics of literature should be that it is read, that it amuses, moves, instructs, changes and criticizes people. And who in the world does that more than Capp? I think Capp may very possibly be the best writer in the world today."
-John Steinbeck, 1953
Biography: Al Capp 2- A CAPPital Offense

Rather than drive today, walk...

Hat tip to Wagga for this find!